Camber adjusting tool



Aug. 8, 1950 F. NIELSEN 2,518,052

CAMBER ADJUSTING TOOL Filed April 10, 1948 Patented Aug. 8, 1950 7 UNITED STATES OFFI a I r v 2,318,052 I" o H p mping-A JUSTING TQOL H v jk Niel sen Quinc M V A plau ena 1943; m b;

This invention relates to tools for adjusting the camber 'of motorvehicle wheels, and more iparticularly' when such wheels are individually spring supported, and it has for one object to" provide a tool of simple construction applicable t adjustthe camber of bothde ft andfrig'ht hafld "A further object is to provide a camb radjusting tool having means for adjusting the normal spacing between the relatively movable'p'oition's ofithe "tool by the relative motion of' which the adjustment of camber is produced.

For a complete understanding ofthisinVention,

reference may be hadto' the accompanying drawingsin whi'ch "Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of certain elements of a camber adjusting tool con-" structed in accordance with this invention. I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation show- 4 ing the tool of Figure 1 applied to a left hand front wheel suspension.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of 'the 'op'erati've" portion of the tool showing a modification.

Figure 4 'is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modification;

' Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the tool applied to a right hand-front suspension.

, Referring to Figures 1, 2 and thetool com-' prises an'elongated block I having a transverse hole 2 therethrough at substantially its central portion. From the face 3 of the block and'adjacent to opposite ends thereof extend lugs 4 at diametrically opposite sides of the hole'2; The

hole 2 is circular and may receive therein abushing' 5, shown detached in Figure 1, and having" an eccentric bore 6 therethrough. Withinthis eccentric bore is journaled a shaft element 1 hav ing an eccentric end portion'8, which when the parts are assembled, extends betweenthe lugs 42 The bushing 5 may be angularly "adjusted in the hole 2, and for this purpose it is shown as provided at its rear end with a polygonal head 9' with a polygonal head to which a wrench may be" applied; or it may be provided with any other suitable meansby'which it may be turned, as is well-understood" in theart. o This too-1 I hay b applied to adjust the camber" of a vehicle wheel, it being shown in Figure 2 as applied to adjust the camber of the left front Wheel, 'this-iiview being taken from back of the suspension and lookingforwardly. The tool is placed inn-position with" respect tothe knuckle support arm I'5as shown in thisfigure, one of theclugs a bearing. on theupperface of the knuckle-:15 and against the outer face of the knuckle-support arm l5, while the eccentric por-' tionof the shaft 7 engages the inner face of the knuckle. support arm; the bushing 5 having been adjustedsangularly soas to permit the parts to take this-position when the eccentric portion 8 is retracted from the arm I5 and engages this arm-somewhat below the engagement thereon of the lug 4. By exerting a turning force on the shaft T, the eccentric portion 8 so presses the knuckle arm'so as to bend it slightly thus to adju-stthe camber." The other lug 4 engages with the under face, of a link extending inwardly from the upper end of the knuckle support arm l5,:-su ch engagement preventing the counterclockwise turning of the block I as the shaft 1- is being rocked. Since the lever arm of such enagement is long the pressure exerted on the 1 link 2 5 is relatively small. It will be noted that theengagement between the knuckle arm support and the lug 4'is toward the upper end of the arm L5, while engagement of the eccentric thereon is-on-the opposite side and well below the engagementbetween the lug 4 and the arm.

When the tool isapplied to the right front wheeLthe other lug l to that shown in Figure 1 engages the knuckle l6 and the outer face of the arm l5 adjacent-to its upper end, while the eccentric "portion 8 engages the opposite side of the-arm and/below the engagement of the lug 4,, thereon. Rocking of the accentric portion 8 is'then effective to bend the upper portion of the knuckle arm; thus to adjust the camber, engagement of the other lug 4 against the link 25 preventing clockwise turning of the block I as the shaft 7 is being rocked.

In some cars the knuckle support arm extends so farabove the knuckle that the tool body cannot engage its top face during the adjusting op-e eratiornand where this is so, the body I may be formedwith a hook portion 2!] extending over the eccentric portion 8 at such a distance that it maybe engaged'bver the link 25. This is as shown in 'Figure 4. -This holds the upper portion of:

one of the lugs 4 up into position adjacent to the upper end of the supporting arm, while the eccentric portion 8 engages this arm at a point beneath the engagement between the lug 4 and the arm. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 4 that this arm is so long that the lug 4 cannot engage the upper face of the knuckle l6 but the hook 20 retains the tool in its correct position for operation. The lower face of the lug 4 in the construction ofFi'gures Zafid and" the hook. 202 in the construction of Figure 4, act' to support the tool in proper relation to the knuckle-support arm so that the bending thereof when the 7 tool is actuated will occur at the desired portion-i of its length, the direction of turning of the shaft being such as to oppose the tendency ofthe-tool; to rock about the engagement of. the lug of the. tool on the knuckle support arm. The engagement of one of the lugs 4 against the linkz25-pre+ vents counterclockwise turning of the block I.

Erom the foregoing description of certain. em.- bodiments-of'. this invention-it willibe evidentto those skilled in the art that variouschanges-and. modificationssmightbe made without departing from its. spirit or. scope.

Iclaim:

1; Acamber adjustingtool. comprising an elongatedlblock havingia transverse hole therethrough and: a: pair of lugsprojecting from. one face". of said-block at diametrically'opposite' sides of said. hole, and aishaft journaled' insai'd' hole and. hav-'--- ing: an eccentric; portion extending from: said; block face and between said. lugs and between which and one of said: lugsa knuckle support arm may be introduced andib'entby'ro'ckingrof said eccentricportionin: contact with said arm' while said blockiis'in operative engagement'zwith saidiarm.

2; Arcamber adjusting toolcomprising-an elongatedblo'ck'havingatransverse'holetherethrough and a pair of lugs projecting from one face of" said block atoppositesides of said hole, a bush-- ingijournaled in said' hole and'having aneocen tric borev therethrough. a shaft journaled insaid' bore and having an eccentric portion: extending from1said block'face and between sai'd lugs, and between which' and one of said lugs a knuckle support arm may be introduced and bent by rocking'off said eccentric portion in contact with said. arm while said block is in operative engagement withsai-d arm, and means for fixing said bushing in. an-gularlyadjustedposition in said hole.-

3; A camber adjusting t'ool' comprising-an elongatedblock-having' atransverse hole'th'erethrough and a pair of lugs projecting from one' face of said'blo'ck at opposite sides of'said hole, a shaft journaled in-said hole and having an eccentric portion extending from said block face and betweens'aid' lugs and between which and one of said lugs a knuckle support arm may be introduced and bent by'rocking of said'ecoentric por'-- tion in' contact with said arm, and a hook carried by said' bl'ock and extending fromsaid-block' face over saidshaft'and by which saidbl'ockniay be'support'ed from a link extending from the upper-end of said arm.

4. A camber adjusting to'ol compri'sing-an elongat'edqo'lock having a tr ansverse hole therethrough and" a pair oflugs projecting from oneface of said block at diametrically: opposite sides of-sai'd' hole, and a shaft journaled'in said hole andihav ing an eccentric portion extending from said block face and: between? said: lugs and between which and one of sa-id'lugs a .knucklesupport arm mayibez introduced and: bent hy rockmgnoii said-.4

4 eccentric portion in contact with said arm, said tool having an element positioned to engage a portion of the vehicle Wheel support for correctly locating said tool with respect to said arm for the bending operation.

5. A camber adjusting tool comprising a block having a transverse hole therethrough and a lug projecting from a face of said block at one side of said hole, a bushing journaled in said hole and. having anreccentric bor'ea therethrough, a shaft journaled in" said bore and having" an eccentric portion extending from said block face and spaced from said lug and between which and said lug a knuckle support arm may be introduced and bent by rocking of said eccentric portion in contactiwith one face of said arm while said lug engages the opposite-face of said arm spaced longitudinally ofsa'id" arm from the engagement of said eccentric portion thereon, and means for fixing said bushing in angularly adjusted positioninsaid hoiea. I

6;. A camben adjustingtool comprising a block having a transverse. hole therethrough and-1a.- lug projecting fr.om-: one. face of. said block spaced fromsaidiholeguashaft extending from said hole and-.:jour.na1ed in-saidhole and'having' an eccentric portion between which and said lug a knuckle support? arm=-maybe engaged atdifi'erent lengthwise portions thereofv to. bebent by rocking o1v said:shaft-,.said.tool having meansfor supporting-'sa-idlbloch with said lug andeccentric portion in engagement with, said arm at different longitudinal {positions rtherealongn 7'. A1 camberi adjusting toohcomprising an.e1ongated block having a transverse hole therethrough: and a. pairor lugs-i projecting from one face of said-block at-diametrically opposite sides'ofsaid hole, and aishaft journalediinsaidhole. and having'. an. eccentric" portion; extending from said blockface and between said. lugs and" between; which and one of said 1ugs,a-.-knuok1e support arm may be: introduced. and bent by rocking of said eccentricv portion in contact with said. arm while? saidibloek; is' inoperative engagement .with said arm and while the other of.- said .lugs. engages another: portioni of: the wheel mounting and: prevents rockingof. saidblock.

8. A camber adjusting tool comprising anelongated'block havingatransverse-hole therethrough and-1a pair oflogs projecting; from one face of said block" at opposite-sides of; said hole, a bush-- ingcjournaled in said" holeand having an eccen trio" bore therethrough',-. a shaft journaled'. in i said bore" and. having aneccentric portion extending fromsaidbloclc faceandebetween said lugs; and: between which and one. ofsaid: lugs aknuckle support armmay 'bez-introduced and bent byrock-- ing'of said eccentric. portionin contact with said arm while said block isvin v operative.- engagement withsaid arm and whilethe other ofsaid lugs engages another portion: of the wheel mounting andiprevents rocking"ofsaid-block; and means for fixing; said: bushing in angularly adjusted posi tion'inrsaid "hole-z.

9: A' camb er -adjusting tool comprising an elongated-block; having a;tran'sverse. hole therethrough and a pair of'lugs projecting front one-face of said block' at opposite'sides ofi saidhole; a shaft journale'd insaid? holeand having: an eccentric portion extending from' said block face andbetween saidlugs an'd'between' w-hichand one? of said-il'ugs a; knuckle: support arm ma be introducediand -bent byrrocking of said eccentric por-- tion intcontact; withwsaidiarm andwhile the. other oi: saidilugs-iengagesianother portion ofthe wheel.

mounting and prevents rocking of said blockQand a hook carried by said block and extending from said block face over said shaft and by which said block may be supported from a. link extending from the upper end of said arm.

FREDERIK NIELSEN.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,263,628 Hinton Nov. 25, 1941 2,425,556

Nielsen Aug; 12, 1947 

